Cyclists Have Rights would like to have as much support as possible from Westminster cyclists at Monday evening's city council meeting. The Westminster City Council will meet in regular session this Monday, July 23rd. Meetings are at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Westminster City Hall, 4800 W. 92nd Ave. More details of the July 23rd meeting can be found on the City of Westminster site

Statement from Cyclists Have Rights to the City of Westminster:

Sidney Johnson, Oct 11, 1959 - Oct 11, 2011

Last Oct, Sidney Johnson went out for an afternoon ride on his bicycle. It was a beautiful autumn afternoon. It was Tuesday and it was Sidney's birthday.

On the return leg of his journey, travelling westbound along 100th Ave -- the route most cyclists, both commuter and recreational cyclists use to travel between Golden and Aravada, and Boulder County, Sidney was struck by an automobile and killed.

If you have ever driven on 100th Ave, between Simms and Alkire streets, you'll know it is a beautiful area, with a wonderful view of the mountains, views of Standley Lake, as well as the sprawling plains that make living in this part of Colorado so wonderful. You would also know that this stretch of road is very narrow, has no hard shoulders at all, and is often traveled by motorists going significantly faster than the speed limit.

The mix of these two realities makes riding a bicycle along 100th ave a treacherous endeavor. Unfortunately for those cyclists trying to move between Jefferson and Boulder counties, it is the least dangerous of the north-south corridors available.

We at CyclistsHaveRights.org have worked with the city's transportation team to have additional signage put along this route the alert motorists to "Share the Road." The engineering team also put together an estimate of what it would take to go beyond mere signage and actually make this stretch of road safe for both motorists and cyclists by adding 4-foot shoulders to both side of the road.

I ask the city council to approve the plans and funding to build these safety shoulders in the upcoming budget cycle of 2012/13.

Motorists will benefits from this investment by being able to travel this stretch more safely by knowing that a cyclist doesn't lurk just under or over the next rise.

Cyclists will benefit by being able to ride in this area safely knowing they have a dedicated and safe space in which to do so.

The community will benefit by being able to walk or bicycle safely to watch the bald eagles that nest along this stretch of road.

The city will benefit by knowing it has taken a progressive step in making it's community better, by improving the accessibility of it's open space, and by delivering on its already adopted bike-Ped plan.

And the family and friends of Sidney Johnson, who so sorely miss his presence, will benefit by knowing that his untimely and tragic death was not in vain.

Again, I ask that you approve this much needed road improvement plan in thus budget cycle.

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